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Apple, others hurt by new Energy Star terms?

updated 10:10 am EDT, Fri July 27, 2007

by MacNN Staff

Apple and Energy Star

Many computer makers can no longer receive the blessing of an Energy Star label, according to new guidelines set out by the US government. New conditions that took effect last week are meant to encourage use of more efficient power-supplies and CPUs as well as enhanced sleep modes, but have set out conditions that most current desktops and notebooks can no longer meet; only 125 computers on sale in the US qualify, according to federal government charts. While the labeling does not bar computers with the label from being sold in the country, the lack of approval may bar some computers from government offices and other locations where low power requirements are necessary.

Although the changes primarily favor notebooks and other computers using mobile or low-performance hardware, the new rules may favor certain companies over others, the chart indicates. Acer, Gateway, Lenovo, and Toshiba are the chief beneficiaries of the new rules and each have several or more systems that meet the demands for an 80% efficient supply and a 2W sleep mode. Lenovo in particular benefits with 77 different configurations of its systems meeting the target.

Other larger makers are punished by the change, however. In particular, Apple lacks a single system that meets the requirement, including its MacBook line. The change comes as a blow to the Cupertino firm's attempts to portray itself as a green company and raises questions of Apple's awareness of Energy Star updates, which had been made public for months. Dell and HP are also hurt and only have a small number of professional workstations included on the list of approved machines.

TOTAL_COMMENTS Comments

so we are asking for something more from our computers? Is that really bad? Should we not push the envelope a little? If everyone cannot meet it, then it is an equal playing field. It will really mean something when more and more computers actually can pass. Heaven forbid, a marketing label that actually means something - especially an improvement...

Probably not. This isn't as simple as changing the power supply; It comes down to choosing components and choosing ones that have low power consumption and/or sleep modes and/or can be switched off while the machine is on when the function is not needed and possibly writing new drivers for such monitoring, etc.

this is the exact purpose of the Energy Star label. Power management by design, not just convenience.

Given the lack of a truly portable MacBook, Apple could do itself some good by putting more effort into energy efficiency.

Apple has been designing its portables for the US (where energy waste is the worst) without real regard to the rest of the world. When I look at the portables here in Japan - there's no comparison. They run cooler and they are much lighter.

And we are still waiting for Apple to deliver something light enough to carry on the train here.

I think it's a good idea for these standards to be tough. Heck, they should be based on the actual models sold: A computer will only be listed as energy-star compliant if it is within the 10% of most efficient vehicles. That way, the constant push of competition to get that label will drive continually improving efficiency.

ENERGY STAR updates our qualified product list regularly. We expect manufacturers to continue to qualify computers on an onging basis. We invite MacNN to link to http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/prod_lists/computers_prod_list.xls for the most current list.

Apple is an ENERGY STAR partner and does have qualified products.

ENERGY STAR does consider performance when setting requirements. Customers should not not have to sacrifice performance when buying ENERGY STAR.

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